The melee broke out after a promotional appearance by the popular boy band Mindless Behavior, police said.

The band had recently concluded the event, aimed at a primarily tween girl fan-base, when a “group of youths” entered the mall intent on creating “chaos and havoc,” said Mall Manager Sarama, who insisted that the disturbance was not related to the band’s appearance, which ended about 4 p.m.

“The people who came out for it were mothers and fathers and girls . . .” Sarama said. “It was a very positive event.”